Chapter 53
After I Died, the Little Groom Is…
Nadia turned her head and looked at Heinrich. As she did, the palm of his hand brushed against her round cheek and small ear.
Nadia, as if not bothered in the least, asked with her usual calm expression:
“Why are you doing that?”
Heinrich’s expression didn’t change much either. Yet, the veins in his neck stood out, as though he was clutching something scorching hot.
“…Magic.”
When Heinrich finally forced out that one word, Nadia gave a faint smile, as though she understood.
“Ah, it is magic, but it’s fine.”
She glanced subtly past his large hand toward Aaron, then whispered:
“This doesn’t use my mana, so it’s really okay. I’ll explain the details later.”
Only then did Heinrich lower his hand back to his side. Nadia dipped her head slightly in thanks before returning her gaze to Aaron.
The mana that had felt so revolting a moment ago now seemed distant.
Perhaps it was because she could feel Heinrich at her side.
Nadia could now interrogate Aaron with a clearer, more objective mind.
“Aaron Varden, the reason you want to die… is because of the black magician behind you, isn’t it?”
“Heh, heheheh! Khhhahahaha!”
Aaron burst out laughing like a madman. From his appearance alone, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.
But Nadia could see it—Aaron was consumed by deep fear.
Whoever he was recalling, he feared them so much that he could not even feel anger.
Nadia placed her hand on the bars and leaned closer.
“I can guess why a coward like you won’t spill everything. It’s because here, you can only die once.”
At her words, Aaron’s eyes flickered. Nadia seized the moment to press harder.
“But your master isn’t like that, is he? The moment you betray him, he’ll make you die in agony, then revive you and kill you again. As many times as it takes to punish your betrayal. Isn’t that right?”
No one could hide the emotions that flowed through their mana. Nadia maintained her focus, and Aaron’s mana grew darker and heavier—so much so that she could barely see his face anymore.
“Aaron Varden, if you die gloriously, do you think your master will praise you and let you pass on to the afterlife? Or… will he resurrect you just to wring out the truth? What kind of man is he?”
“…”
“On the other hand, we can make sure you’re never resurrected.”
From Aaron’s heart, suspicion and hope sprouted together. Nadia recognized them instantly—the two emotions almost always came as a pair.
“The imperial palace intends to hang you publicly. That would leave you in the perfect state for resurrection.”
Nadia spoke lightly, as though it were a good thing.
Still, Aaron’s suspicion remained. Naturally—how could he easily trust a nameless woman standing beyond the bars?
“Think it over. I’ll come back tomorrow. Perhaps someone from the palace will come then, too.”
Nadia smiled and started to leave with Heinrich.
At that moment, Aaron’s mana shifted.
Clank. Clank.
“Aah! Ugh, nghh… ahhh!”
The clattering of chains and Aaron’s agonized groans filled the cell.
More mana than ever before surged out of Aaron’s heart—a turbulent mix of fear, despair, and desperate longing.
Had she been peering into others’ mana for too long? For a moment, Nadia felt dizzy, as though his chaotic emotions were spilling into her own mind.
When she faltered, Heinrich gripped her elbow firmly.
Nadia shot him a quick look of gratitude, then turned back to Aaron. The most important thing now was to sway him.
“Aaron Varden, if you cooperate with me, I swear I’ll keep my promise. I’ll swear on my soul if you wish. You’ll pay for your crimes only in this life, just like any other criminal.”
Aaron stared at her with trembling eyes. To the outside observer, he might still seem undecided—but Nadia could see it.
Aaron had already chosen. He would cooperate with her.
Just then, a guard outside entered, alarmed by Aaron’s struggling.
Nadia stepped back from the bars and told him:
“Remove the prisoner’s gag.”
“But…”
The guard hesitated, glancing at Heinrich. Seeing no sign of objection, the guard finally nodded and removed the gag.
Though Aaron was still trembling with fear, he didn’t try to bite his tongue.
Nadia leaned in close to hear him.
The guard, however, startled by her nearness, blurted out:
“Lady Hess, be careful. He’s dangerous.”
Unconsciously, Nadia turned her head at the sound. Like how one instinctively looks toward a sudden noise.
It all happened in that fleeting instant.
Aaron croaked in a voice that seemed ready to break:
“…Lady… Hess?”
A despair so deep it was bottomless.
Both his voice and the flicker of his mana revealed a pitch-black emotion.
The moment Nadia tried to check on him, a massive frame blocked her view like a wall.
Reflexively, she tried to pull away, but then two hands covered her ears.
It was as if a great barrier had been raised around her. All sound became muffled, a dull hum, and all she could see was the button of Heinrich’s suit.
Then, like mist creeping along the ground, a chilling flow of mana spread beneath her feet.
“Is he dead?”
A faint voice came through Heinrich’s hands.
“…He is dead.”
The guard’s voice too sounded muffled.
And so Nadia understood. The cold mana brushing past her feet belonged to the dead.
Heinrich still shielding her vision, he led her out of the prison.
Only once they had put some distance between themselves and Aaron’s corpse did he stop, gripping Nadia’s shoulders to check her face.
“My lady, are you alright?”
Nadia lifted her glass-clear eyes to him.
“It feels strange.”
“What feels strange?”
“I can feel it… far too clearly.”
She rubbed her arms over and over. The friction of her skin against itself registered nothing. It was as if she had stood too long in an icy place, her whole body frozen.
“It’s not even the first time I’ve seen someone die…”
“My lady?”
“But Aaron Varden… it feels like he’s still right here, so close to me.”
Nadia began scratching her arm slowly with her nails. Realizing it, Heinrich caught her hands, but she kept trying to claw at herself.
“My lady, look at me.”
Heinrich dropped to one knee at her feet, pulling her hands against his chest and holding them tight.
He forced her hollow eyes to meet his.
“I don’t know what you’re experiencing. I don’t know what you saw.”
“Aaron Varden…”
“But what you must not forget is that I am the one here beside you now. Me.”
His voice was stern, almost angry, yet filled with desperation.
That voice sank deep into her soul, calming her heart.
Her endlessly wavering eyes finally found focus, and warmth began to return to her body.
Nadia drew in a great, shuddering breath.
“…My lord.”
“Have you come to your senses?”
She couldn’t even nod. Leaning weakly against the wall, she slid down until she was crouched on the floor, too drained to stand.
After calming her breathing, she touched her pale forehead.
“…Forgive me. I thought it would be fine, since it wasn’t using my mana. Until now, I’ve never had an issue… No, that’s just an excuse. I’m sorry, my lord.”
The way she blamed herself for everything—that was the Nadia he knew.
Relieved, Heinrich stood and extended his hand to her.
“There’s no need to blame yourself. That man had resolved to trick you and die from the start.”
But no—Nadia knew otherwise.
In that final moment, Aaron had truly wanted her help.
Yet the instant the guard spoke the words ‘Lady Hess,’ Aaron had realized something… and killed himself immediately.
What had he feared so much?
The daughter of Baron Hess, whom he had never even met?
Or… the resurrected Rivenia Baldwin?
